Graphic Novel Review: Romeo vs. Juliet: A Kill Shakespeare Adventure

Published by: Gemstone Publishing

Written by: Anthony Del Col

Illustrated by: Stefan Tosheff

ISBN: 9781603606479

Ages: 15+

If you’ve ever read any Shakespeare and wondered how it might change if the characters from different stories were able to interact with each other, then the “Kill Shakespeare” universe of stories might be for you. In it, characters like Juliet, Othello, and Hamlet band together to take on the evils of Richard III or Lady Macbeth. All strive to find the illusive wizard Shakespeare, who they seek to kill and take his magic quill.

In this side story, Juliet Capulet, having survived her ordeal in Verona, has become lovers with Hamlet, possibly carrying his child, and with King Richard III defeated by her rebellion (see the main Kill Shakespeare title) must now protect the town of Padua from the armies of the Macbeths and the forces of Titus Andronicus. Knife wielding bandit Egeus (from A Midsummer Night’s Dream) and Pandarus (from Trollus and Cressida) have brought their forces to bear on the town. But they are linked by someone who should not be alive: Romeo Montague.

Does Juliet still need her Romeo? Or has she truly moved on?

At first, the premise of the titles in this series struck me as odd, but the common Shakespearean style diction gave the story an authenticity that made it flow naturally. Just the title of Romeo vs. Juliet was enough for me to want to check this out, and I was not disappointed. To truly enjoy this title, you do need to be somewhat versed in Shakespeare, as they don’t go back and explain who these characters are.

Ages 15+

ADAM FISHER, Reference Associate

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Adam Fisher

Adam Fisher has worked for more than a decade at Lane Libraries in Fairfield, Ohio, where he is a Reference Associate. He creates and leads programming for all ages, manages the graphic novel, sci-fi/fantasy, and magazine collections at his branch, and has recently seen great success with his self-created Escape Room programs. He writes reviews for everything he reads and can be found on Goodreads @FisherAd80 and on Twitter @adamreadscomics.

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